Chinese Dissident Xu Wenli Gets 13-Year Sentence

BEIJING — Underscoring the government's resolve to crush dissent, a Chinese court today sentenced a prominent dissident to 13 years in prison, accusing him of trying to subvert state power by organizing an opposition party, a human rights group said.

Xu, 55, refused to answer any questions put to him by the judge and prosecution, his court-appointed lawyer, Mo Shaoping, said.

"This is political persecution," Mo quoted Xu as telling the court after sentencing.

Xu's conviction deprives the nascent China Democracy Party of a potent organizer and a moderate voice. He is the most influential dissident leader to have been tried in a three-week campaign that has seen at least 32 members detained or questioned.